Church History "...upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades shall not over power it."
In 2012, while living in Elon, NC, God shared a vision of a church and named it Beloved. At the time, Pastor Leon was serving as an Associate Minister at Elon First Baptist Church in Elon, NC, so the vision laid dormant for many years. In 2016, while visiting Ridgecrest near Black Mountain in North Carolina, Pastor Leon was afforded the opportunity to launch Beloved Community Church. With the support of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina and Metrolina Baptist Association, Pastor Leon identified the Simmons YMCA as a location for Bible study.
Beloved Community Church is so excited that God has shown Pastor Leon the vision for the church, "to become passionate disciples, seekers of Christ, and leaders in the community." Our church history is already written and you are very much a part of the next chapter. While we wait for instructions from God, we solicit your prayers, gifts, and talents to help us abide in His word and His will.
Our church motto, "the new me journey," is rooted in Colossians 3, which highlights a number of themes: 1) put to death the old you; 2) put on the new self; 3) be God's chosen ones, holy and beloved; and 4) do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. We are firm believers that Beloved Community Church is called to be a place of forgiveness, love, peace, and appreciation. Simply put, "the new me journey" is Kingdom building here on earth! God has charged us to empower imperfect people to walk in His perfect will! Your journey starts today!
Pastor & First Lady "He who find a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD."
Dr. Theodric Leon Williams, passionately called "Pastor Leon" is the Senior Pastor and founder of Beloved Community Church in Charlotte, NC. Pastor Leon uses expository preaching. He was a student athlete in college and later a Student Affairs professional before accepting the call in the ministry. He earned a bachelor degree from Ohio Northern University in Ada, Ohio in Business Management, Master of Science of Education (Counseling Education) from The University of Dayton in Dayton, Ohio, and Doctorate of Ministry (Society, Culture, and Religion) from Virginia University of Lynchburg in Lynchburg, VA. Prior to his call to lead Beloved, Pastor Leon served as Youth-Young Adult Pastor at First Missionary Baptist Church in Concord, NC, under the pastoral leadership of Rev. Dr. Herb Rhedrick (2015-2017), Campus Pastor of One In Christ Gospel Ministry at Elon University in Elon, NC (2012-2013), and Associate Minister of Elon First Baptist Church in Elon, NC (2011-2013). For more information about Pastor Leon, please visit: www.leoncharacteredu.com.
Sis. Rochelle Williams is the daughter of the late Rev. William L. Gordon and Pastor Emeritus Rev. Bernice Gordon of First Calvary Baptist Church in Youngstown, Ohio. Rochelle holds a Bachelor's degree in Social Work from an accredited social work program at Buena Vista University. Rochelle has utilized her social work skills in working with diverse populations, underprivileged and impoverished families, persons diagnosed with mental health illness/developmental disabilities, children in foster care and the elderly. Most recently, Rochelle has served as a women's ministry adviser and a servant leader for both Youth Praise Team and liturgical dance ministry.
Pastor Leon and First Lady Rochelle have been married over 20 years. They reside in Charlotte. They have four children between them. From our family to yours..."Welcome to Beloved!"
Leon, Rochelle, Sierra, and Elijah
God the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit
The Bible teaches us that the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God; therefore we serve a triune God. The Trinity is one God in three persons. (Isaiah 6:8; Matthew 3:16-17; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Genesis 1:26)
The Word of God
The Bible is God's complete message to man. God is the communicator through His Son, Jesus Christ. The Bible is our sword against the enemy. (Acts 11:1; John 14:9; Hebrews 4:12; Matthew 4:4; Ephesians 6:17)
Salvation
Salvation is available by faith through Jesus Christ alone. We believe that salvation is granted to those who accept by faith God's redemptive plan from eternal punishment. (John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 1:16)
Baptism
We believe in complete submergence of water for Baptism. Baptism is a public demonstration of a private identification with Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. (Romans 6:3-4; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:38)
Eternity
We believe that there is something more to life than the world that we live in and see. The Word of God charges us to examine our hearts in search for a greater purpose beyond the here and now. (Ecclesiastes 3:11)
The Church
We are a body of believers drawn together by the commands of the Word of God, Salvation, the Great Commission, and Baptism of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:41-47; Matthew 28:16-20; Romans 16:5;)
Stewardship
We believe and understand that God is our provider and He is everything we need. When it comes to stewardship, we value the following principles: 1) ownership; 2) responsibility; 3) accountability, 4) giving; and 5) reward. (2 Corinthians 9:6-7; Colossians 3:23-24; Deuteronomy 8:18; Psalm 24:1)
The Bible teaches us that the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God; therefore we serve a triune God. The Trinity is one God in three persons. (Isaiah 6:8; Matthew 3:16-17; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Genesis 1:26)
The Word of God
The Bible is God's complete message to man. God is the communicator through His Son, Jesus Christ. The Bible is our sword against the enemy. (Acts 11:1; John 14:9; Hebrews 4:12; Matthew 4:4; Ephesians 6:17)
Salvation
Salvation is available by faith through Jesus Christ alone. We believe that salvation is granted to those who accept by faith God's redemptive plan from eternal punishment. (John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 1:16)
Baptism
We believe in complete submergence of water for Baptism. Baptism is a public demonstration of a private identification with Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. (Romans 6:3-4; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:38)
Eternity
We believe that there is something more to life than the world that we live in and see. The Word of God charges us to examine our hearts in search for a greater purpose beyond the here and now. (Ecclesiastes 3:11)
The Church
We are a body of believers drawn together by the commands of the Word of God, Salvation, the Great Commission, and Baptism of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:41-47; Matthew 28:16-20; Romans 16:5;)
Stewardship
We believe and understand that God is our provider and He is everything we need. When it comes to stewardship, we value the following principles: 1) ownership; 2) responsibility; 3) accountability, 4) giving; and 5) reward. (2 Corinthians 9:6-7; Colossians 3:23-24; Deuteronomy 8:18; Psalm 24:1)